World Team Champs Play-offs commence

NEWS ARTICLE

USA vs Sweden Mulloy Cup

POERTSCHACH, AUSTRIA & PROSTEJOV, CZECH REPUBLIC: In the Alice Marble Cup (W60), top seed USA maintained its perfect record with a 3-0 win over Germany and will face fifth seed Great Britain in tomorrow's semifinal. Great Britain upset the third seed Australia 2-1 today. Netherlands defeated South Africa and will play eighth seed Austria for a place in the final.

In Prostejov, the Kitty Godfree Cup (W65) final will be contested by top seed France and second seed USA. France defeated Germany 2-1 today having claimed both singles rubbers. Meanwhile, USA defeated Australia, 3-0. The final will be played on Saturday.

In the Althea Gibson Cup (W70), all four top seeds successfully navigated their groups and will meet in the semifinals. Current champion USA is yet to lose a rubber, having beaten Spain 3-0 today. USA faces third seed France, who defeated fifth seed Australia, 2-1. Group B winner, Germany, will face Great Britain in the other semifinal, with both teams boasting perfect records so far.

The Queens Cup (W75) current champion, USA, is joined by Great Britain and Germany in a 3 team play-off. USA seized the initiative today with a 2-1 defeat of Germany, as Dorothy Matthiessen and Lyn Tietz clinched the deciding doubles. Germany will take on Great Britain tomorrow.

In Villach, the Doris Hart Cup (W80) champion, Canada, defeated Great Britain, 2-1, to top Group A. In Group B, Australia defeated unseeded France. Canada will play France, whilst Australia takes on Great Britain in the semifinals.

In Poertschach, in the Von Cramm Cup (M60), seventh seeded Canada upset third seeded Australia today, 2-1. Top seed USA and second seed France also recorded victories and joined Canada in a 1-5 play-off, the quintet being completed by Germany and Austria, both of whom qualified on Wednesday. Being one day ahead, host nation Austria took on Germany today and claimed the first victory of the 1-5 play-off, 2-1.

In the Britannia Cup (M65), with the group stage complete, play got underway in a 1-6 play-off today. Fourth seed Switzerland beat Great Britain, 2-1, whilst seventh seeded Germany defeated Sweden, also 2-1.

In the Jack Crawford Cup (M70), in the 1-6 play-off, sixth seed Australia upset fourth seed Great Britain, 2-1, whilst third seed Italy claimed a clean sweep against France, 3-0. Italy will next take on current champion and host nation Austria, on Friday.

In Prostejov, in the Bitsy Grant Cup (M75), USA maintained its 100% record with a 3-0 win over Australia. USA will contest Saturday's final with second seeded Germany, after it defeated host nation, Czech Republic, 2-1. That victory included Klaus Haas (GER) defeating the current individual world champion Frantisek Cech, 61 60. USA is looking to win the title for a record 6th consecutive year.